This week has been super super awesome. We found five new investigators to teach and we have four really solid potential investigators. We met with a woman named Donna and her mother Ola and taught them the restoration. Donna said that she never really has been religious but will read from the Book of Mormon. They also made another appointment to see us this week so that's really cool. I think the biggest miracle from this week is Amy. We felt prompted to go see people in these townhouses are by another member. We knocked on amys door and talk to her about what we as missionaries do and invited her to church. We also asked her if we could come back and see her again and teach her more. We went back later in the week to set up an appointment and she said we could come back the next day but then we went and saw a person we knew Who was walking with her kids right next to Amy's house. Then a few minutes later he came back out of her house and told us to just come right in. We talked about a lot of her questions why we were missionaries and where we were from as well as our favorite scriptures and how we keep our faith in Jesus Christ. She told us that she had lost her faith and was praying for an answer and then we knocked on her door. I've always heard stories like this but never really thought it would happen to us. But heavenly father is really that at the head of this work it is crazy how much he has blessed us this week. Amy wants us to keep in contact with her so we can teach her more and she wants to come to sacrament meeting this week. She has some struggles but we know through Jesus Christ she can have faith again and she will except this gospel message. It seems like all this week we have been. Focusing on following the spirit and trying to get 100 investigators for our zone and we have truly seen the fruit of our labor's. Do you remember Cari and Mark? We went to their house after they moved and met Megan she said that we can connect this week and teach her more about her how her family can be together forever. It seems like the house is just a golden house haha.
Nicole and her family are doing really great they are coming to church and are still striving towards the temple. A few ladies in the society are taking her and her family to the temple this next week. I know that as they just see the temple they will feel the spirit and have more desire to be active in getting to the temple. We also met a man named Jerry this week he is known also by the beaver man. That is because he is heavily involved in the Native American religion. When we first saw his name in the area book we were confused as to what we would finally went out there. We met the super awesome White couple it made me laugh but they were so involved with the native Americans. They are actually building a traditional Cherokee tribal Council house that they took us to see which is in their backyard. So I don't know if you'll be converted but it's still super awesome to talk to him about the gospel. His wife a gentle elk or Sue is more hesitant about the book of Mormon but Jerry says we can come back and talk to him anytime. Apparently the chief is also a member of the church but we don't really know how that all works. There definitely are so many different kinds of people here in la center.
I think one of my favorite lessons we've had this week is with the family of the Oberts. They're going through a lot of challenges right now and their daughter-in-law is in a member of the church. She took the lessons in California and it is rumored that she was going to get baptized when she moved to Washington but that was in November. So we were able to watch meet the Mormons with them and have a lesson about the atonement. We asked Morgan if she wanted to us to teach the lessons again and she agreed so that was pretty exciting. We are going to hang out with them next Pday it was going to be today but they are going to see Garth Brooks in concert in Portland. Which made me super jealous and if I wasn't on a mission I would definitely be at that concert. But I love this work it seems like it's just getting better and better every day. We were Tracting yesterday and we had a lot of rude people slam the door on our faces. But then we met Caroline we talk to her a little bit about her message but she said that she was really busy at the moment so we asked if we could come back. She said her family is really busy with baseball so she would know when she would be home so we said maybe we'll just catch you another time. And then she said why don't you come back tomorrow night at six which caught us off guard but we are so excited to meet with her today heavenly father has been leading us and it is made this works so much more fun because we are actually teaching in seeing peoples lives change.
Sybil is still the only one on date for baptism but we are meeting with Deeann and her daughter on Tuesday to do a tour of the church. We are going to invite them to be baptized on that day. A lot of these people are super cool and that we have found this week and hopefully will have more baptism dates as we meet with them. We haven't gone back to see the Russian lady because I only know how to say I don't know in Russian haha I love this area so much and I'm really glad that sister McMullen was put as my trainer. It seems like the work is just exploding and that people here are ready for the gospel. Which is a huge difference than when I first got here and a lot of that has to do with faith and setting goals. I've been studying a lot about coming into Christ and how we need to do that every day every day every day. I love General conference and I'm so glad that we have a living prophet on the earth to guide us to come back home to our heavenly father. I would invite you all to start rereading General conference and taking it one talk at a time that way you can really digest what the Lord wants us to have for the next six months. And then when your neighbor moves in you can get her reactivated :-) by just showing an example and talking about your church life can really make a difference in the lives of people who are not active or who are not members. Always have faith and never give up because no effort is wasted.
Keep praying and fasting I know those seem redundant but they are the things that will really make a difference and I know that to be true. It seems like everyone at home is just sick! I finally got over my month of being sick when I first came to the field which all stunk. I know that the gospel will bless every single one of us as we coming to Christ repent and have faith in him. This is his plan for us and even though life is difficult challenges the gospel of Jesus Christ will help us through those. They won't be always taken away but we are made stronger as we look to Christ for peace and comfort. I can't believe that Britney is graduating next month it seems like she just started law school but I'm sure she's thinks that she's been there forever ha ha. Church is so important!!!! We really are a churchgoing people because it strengthens us and helps us face the week and most important it renews our covenants and makes us clean again. I really grown to love every minute of church because it is exactly were heavenly father wants us to be. I miss going to the temple but I'm glad to be doing work for the living :-) but go to the temple!! That is all Pres. Monson talked about in general conference so it must be really important :-)
Nothing else interesting has happened this week and by that I mean I didn't get hit by a car or sprayed in the face at the car wash ha ha but it has been a really great and fun week. I seriously want to stay here for the rest of my mission because there so much work to do.
I will be able to Skype for Mother's Day next month so I'm really excited for that :-) I hope you all have a really great week and know that I love you and pray for you every day. Remember Jesus Christ this week and remember to come unto him every day every day every day!! Have a super awesome and fun week :-)
Love,
Sister Stephens
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